Exercising device



May 11, 1943. G. c. BuLLocH EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1941 ff Ome s Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED STATES '-12 Claims.

This invention is directed to new and useful im- `provements in lexercising device of the type comprising an abdominal contact plate heldaway from a vertical support and against which `the `user leans or falls. This invention is directed 4particularly to an improvement over the exercising device shown and described in my copending patent application Serial No. 356,988, led September .16, .1939, now Patent No. 2,253,758.

In a device of this type it is desirable `to have a slight resiliency or cushion between the contact plate and the support but substantial movement or give should be avoided.

It is also desirable to provide an adjustment for the contact plate but the amount of adjustability should be limited.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a contact plate assembly havinga limited adjustment.

Another object is to provide an improved cushioning means between the plate and the support.

4 tact plate.

In detail I indicates Va wall or vertical support e .to which the exercising device is secured by means of screws v2. The device comprises a main supporting plate 3 provided with an offset ange 4 .extending around its edge. This plate 3 is provided with a vertical slot 5 on one side of which appear calibrations 6. The outwardly extending plate supporting arm "I is formed of flat spring metal and is bent with a. gentle curve upwardly at Yone end to form a securing bracket 8 having a hole 9 and is hooked at its other end as at III to provide a seat for the plate II. A downwardly extending bracket I2 likewise formed of spring metal is welded to arm 'I at I2a and is provided with a hole I3 to provide a securing bracket similar to portion 8 of arm "I.

A backing plate Il is positioned to the rear of main supporting plate 3 and is provided with two bolts 'I5 extending forwardly therefrom through slot 5 and holes 9 and I3. These bolts arewelded to the rearof plate I4. Wing nutsl I 6 are threaded onto the outer ends .of bolts I5 and when tightenedwill clamp the lbrackets 8 and 'I2 to plate 3. It can Abe seen that this assembly permits vertical adjustment of arm 1.

ATENT orrlfce The plate assembly comprises 'the abdominal contact -plate II and a U-shaped bracket I'I, having two rearwardly extending parallel legs'I 8, welded. to the .rear face of Aplate II. Extending 'between and through these legs IB'is a hinge Din I9 which ris upset at both ,ends as vshown at 12,0 to

maintain it in position. This pin is Vpositioned 'in the throat 2| of thehooked end of arm 7. Ar-

cuate slots .22 are formed at the ends of legs I8 Wing nuts 24 are threaded onto the ends of bolt r2,3 and when tightened Will cause the legs I8 to press against arm I and the hooked portiony I0 to -hold the lplate in adjusted position. VWhen the nuts are vloosened the plate may be moved about hinge I9 a limited degree, the amount of movement depending upon the length of ythe slot.

It will be seen that the slots 22 are sopositioned in leg portions I8 that the plate II may beadjusted only from vertical position toa position in which the front surface 25 faces upwardly.v In the use of this device it is 'undesirable that the front or contacting surface 25 face downwardly and the stop means is so arranged to prevent-any such adjustment.

The calibrations enable the operator or user to 'know 'the most eflicacious vertical adjustment or permit the user to systematically vary his use of the device.

In assembling the `plate I I on varm I the bolt 23 l is removed and the plate positioned immediately above and parallel to arm l to the rear of `hook Ill and then moved outwardly until hinge pin I9 comes in contact with `throat 2|. The plate is thenrswung to vertical andthe bolt 2-3 inserted through slotsj22 and between arm I and its hooked 0i end li). `Nuts 24 `arezthenthreaded on the `ends of bolt 23. l

The dat spring metal construction affords a lcertain minimum resiliency or cushioning veffect andthe plate adjustment Vpermits the plate to'be positioned so that a slight upward push-ing eiect maybe obtained by the user as well asga horizontal force.

"In use the operator adjusts-the height ofthe plate II s o that it is about level with the operatorfs abdomen. Then standingfa short distance .from "the plate, for Iexample from two to six inches, the operator allows himself to Ifall from theperpg'endicular toward l'the `plate II until the vplate contacts the abdomen. V'In this position stopped the yoperatpr returnsjhimself to normal, 'p perpendicular'position solely-by pushing Vagainst benet accordingly.

plate ll with his abdominal muscles and by inhaling at the same time, and when he has thus regained perpendicular position he again allows himself to fall against the plate as first described and then at once again pushes himself to normal position and this operation is continuously repeated until the desired exercise has` been obtained. Obviously the number of times this can or should be done at one time depends upon the physical condition of the operator as does the frequency of such exercise.

twice a day, before meals, is` beneficial, but it is It has been determined that from fifty to one hundred times.

apparent that as the abdominal muscles thus exercised become stronger and the fat reduced, the operator can far exceed these numbers and It has been found that the use of this device will cause excess fat to rapidly disappear from the abdominal region and the muscles thereabout to become strong and rm.

vObviously the plate 3 is to be moved to different heights to contact dierent parts of the abdominal region.

The :dat spring and curved bracket construction of the illustrated device provides the desired resiliency or cushion.

I claim:

1. An exercising device for the abdomen comprising a Vertical support, a flat spring arm extending away from said support, an abdominal contact plate hinged to the end of said arm, and means permitting limited pivotal adjustment of said plate and locking means for holding said plate in adjusted position.

2. An exercising device for the abdomen comprising a vertical support, a flat; spring arm justment of said plate relative to said arm about said hinge member as an axis and means for holding said plate in adjusted position.

4. An exercising device comprising a vertical supporting plate provided with a vertical longitudinally extending slot, an outwardly extending supporting arm, an abdominal contact plate on the outer end of Vsaid arm, a vertically extending bracket portion at the inner end of said arm, a backing plate'positioned behind said supporting plate, bolts extending from said backing plate through said slot and said bracket portion and nuts threaded on said bolts for adjustably clamping said arm to said supporting plate.

5. An exercising device comprising a vertical supporting plate provided with a vertical longitudinally extending slot, an outwardly extending supporting arm formed of at spring metal, the innerend of said arm being bent at right angles to the arm to form a vertically extending bracket portion joined to the arm by a curved portion, means securing said bracket portion to said supporting plate and an abdominal contact plate on the outer end of said arm.

6. On exercising device comprising a vertical supporting plate provided with a 'vertical longi- -aligned with but extending in the opposite direction from the vertically extending bracket portion of the arm, means clamping said brackets to the supporting plate and an abdominal contact plate on the other end of said arm.

7. An exercising device comprising a vertical support, a flat spring arm extending away from said support, the inner end of said arm being bent with a curve to form a vertically extending bracket, the other end of said arm vbeing bent to forni ahook, means clamping said bracket portion to the vertical support, a contact plate and means clamping said plate to said hooked end of the arm.

8. An exercising device comprising a vertical supporta fiat spring arm extending away from said support, the inner end of said arm being bent with a curve to form a vertically extending bracket, the other end of said arm being bent to form a hook, releasable means clamping said bracket to said support to provide vertical adjustment of said arm, a contact plate pivotally mounted on the outer end of said arm, stop members limiting the pivotal movement of said plate on said arm and means for holding said plate to said arm in adjusted position. Y i

9. An exercising device comprising a vertical support, an outwardly extending arm mounted on said support, a contact plate, a U-shaped bracket secured to the inner surface of said plate, a hinge pin positioned in said bracket, means pivotally holding said hinge pin on the outer end of said arm, means for clamping said bracket to said arm and stop means limiting the amount of pivotal movement of said plate relative to said arm.

10. An exercising device comprising an outwardly extending arm, a vertical support to which said arm is secured, a contact plate pivotally mounted on the outer end of said arm, stop means limiting the pivotal movement of said plate between the limits of vertical position and a position in which the outer surface of said plate faces at an angle upwardly from said vertical position.

11. An exercising device comprising an outwardly extending arm, a vertical support to which said arm is secured, a contact platepivotally mounted on the outer end of said, arm, stop means limiting the pivotal movement of said plate so as to prevent the plate to be movedso that the outer surface of said plate faces downwardly.

12. An exercising device comprising van@ outwardly extending arm, a vertical support to which said arm is secured, the outer end of said arm being hooked, a contact plate, a U.shaped bracket secured to the inner surface of said contact plate and provided with arcuate slots in its leg portions, a hinge pin extending across said bracket and positioned at the throat of said hooked end portion of the arm, a bolt extending through said slots and across and Within the jaw of said end portion, and nuts threaded on said bolt for clamping the bracket adjustably to said arm. f

GEORGE C. BULLOCH." 

